‘Best team in the league’ who ‘still haven’t resolved the burning question’

On this week’s episode of Dub Zone, A-Leagues legend Teresa Polias said: “They made a big statement against Brisbane. Very balanced performance in offence and defence, probably their strongest of the season against such a great outfit.”

A-Leagues commentator Teo Pellizzeri added: “The reality is, if you score, you know, a goal in the first 10,15, minutes, you can set the tone for the rest of the game and City is the best team in the league from playing in front.

City have not lost since their Grand Final defeat at the hands of rivals Sydney FC in May.

A lot has changed since City dominated but succumbed to a Sydney side that claimed their second successive Championship – Dario Vidosic departed for Brighton and Hove Albion in the Women’s Super League (WSL), and he was replaced by Michael Matricciani.

City also said goodbye to young gun Daniel Galic, as well as Hannah Wilkinson, Naomi Chinnama, Emina Ekic and Julia Gross. In have come the likes of Lourdes Bosch, Mariana Speckmaier, Alexia Apostolakis and Kathryn Harvey, and they have enjoyed a red-hot start to the season.

Without a Championship since 2020, Pellizzeri feels there is a “burning question” that needs to be answered and it does not centre on the Premier’s Plate but the Grand Final.

“Melbourne City are going to win the league (Premiership) from here,” he said. “I can’t see anyone catching them, but they still haven’t resolved the burning question, which is, in any one given game, and I’m thinking, Grand Final day.

“But I, on the outside, I am taking it for granted. They’ll be there on Grand Final day. It’s just a matter of, will they be able to take the next step?”

Polias added: “They are prone to the odd upset, you know, and they don’t want it to be Grand Final day.”